What Do Most Movers Charge per Hour?

Movers

Moving is one of the most exciting yet overwhelming (and expensive) experiences that requires planning to ensure everything goes smoothly. This includes budgeting for the entire operation, hence many ask what movers charge per hour. Since there isn’t a single answer that will apply to everyone, our article is here to help you get answers.

Read on to learn all about mover costs per hour.

How Much Do Most Movers Charge per Hour?

There isn’t one hourly rate that applies to most movers. Depending on who you talk to and where you find movers, you will see hourly rates ranging anywhere between $20 and $150. Your location, timing, additional services (like helping you pack), the weight of your belongings, and the labor intensity and how time-consuming everything can affect the price you’re quoted per hour.

Factors That Affect What Movers Charge per Hour

Due to the wide spectrum of hourly rates, it is important to understand the factors that affect what movers charge per hour. Below, we’ll list some of the common factors that affect mover hourly rates.

Size of the Move

The size of the move is perhaps the biggest driver in how much movers will charge you per hour. The more stuff you have to move, the longer it will take movers. If your belongings require a second trip or more than one day, for example, movers may charge you extra for the second day.

Your Belongings

Another factor is the type of belongings you have. For instance, if your belongings require movers to wrap or pad fragile items, like glass tables and antiques, expect a higher hourly rate due to the materials and the added labor.

Additionally, movers may charge you more if you have particularly heavy or bulky items like large appliances, pool tables, or pianos. Since movers require special handling or equipment when moving large and heavy belongings, they may charge you a flat fee per item on top of their hourly rate.

Carrying Distance

An often overlooked factor that can affect the hourly rate of movers is the distance they carry your belongings to and from the moving truck. If the truck has to park far away, the movers may charge a long carry fee if the distance exceeds a certain limit. Although there isn’t a standard distance for this, it is usually between 50 and 100 feet.

Therefore, you can expect a higher hourly rate if the carrying distance to and from the truck is going to be longer than usual.

Season and Timing

The season and timing have just as much say in the hourly rate of movers as the previous points. Most people move during the summer months when kids are on summer break and the weather is favorable. Since demand for moving is higher during summer, rates are typically higher compared to other months.

Weekends also tend to be more expensive than weekdays as most people prefer not to miss work for their move, as it is already a big expense. Tuesdays and Wednesdays tend to be the least busy days for movers.

What to Expect From Mover Costs

With all of this, you can determine a range based on the details of your move. If you have heavy items and your belongings require wrapping and padding, expect a higher hourly rate between $50 and $100 per hour. If you’re organized and your belongings are packed and ready to be moved, you can find movers for as little as $20 to $30 per hour.

However, all this research won’t mean much if you’re moving from one state to another, as mover costs will be nothing compared to transporting your belongings. Research the best interstate movers and collect quotes. With the right mover, you might end up paying less for everything in total than paying for local movers to load up a truck and handle transportation separately.

Save Money When Hiring Movers

Now, you have a good idea of what most movers charge per hour based on the factors that affect the costs. If you want to cut the costs down, you can do so by choosing weekdays, comparing quotes from different movers, and taking on some of the work yourself, like wrapping fragile items and organizing your belongings.

While some of these might seem small, they will have a combined impact in lowering hourly mover rates, helping you cut down costs significantly.

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